Morawa Shire WA
Morawa is a Shire with a scenic beauty and ambiance of a truly agricultural district and located only 4 hours drive from the city of Perth, Western Australia. The Shire of Morawa has many attractions, both historic and modern, that make it a wonderful and welcoming place to visit.
Morawa is dependent on broad acre Agriculture, with a strong history of Mining. Iron Ore was first mined at Koolanoooka Hills (20kms east) in 1961,and the first shipment of Ore left Geraldton in 1966.
Our district is a tourism destination from May to September as we have the most beautiful display of Wildflowers. We are often in summer months the hottest place in Australia, always in the top five.
My favourite part of living here is to see our farmers have a bountiful year, our community thrives on good years and struggles on those that are dry. I love watching the seasons change, to me the seasons are defined by our cropping programs. It starts with watching the dust as many farmers are dry seeding to the first rains when you can smell the richness of the soil through to seeing the little shades of green come through. The greatest pleasure is to see these glimmers of green grow into beautiful crops that then turn golden in September /October.
Second Generation in Local Government
I was first Elected to the Shire in May 2005. I had been the Licensee of the local Australia Post for 11 years therefore had a deep knowledge of the community and its challenges. My father had been a Shire President and Councillor of a neighbouring LG so I understood the commitment and value of the role.
In my daily life I am the Accounts Manager for both our farming partnership and our daughter’s law firm in Perth. I act as relief manager at the Post Office when required, these Post Office days are so valuable in keeping me in contact with the community. I continue to serve the community as a Board Member of Rural West and Desert Blue Connect, organisations that offer free mental health and financial service support.
If I was to have a down day I love to read but one of my greatest loves is cars, I really like a car with grunt, nothing quite like the meaty sound of a V8. I often say if I was to have my life again I would love to be Peter Brock or Daniel Riccardo. It is fortunate that I have a love of driving and cars as I spend much of my life travelling between Perth and Morawa.
Infrastructure Maintenance critical
Our Council like many others is struggling to maintain assets and a high level of service delivery with limited resources. We have more than 800 kms of roads, our agricultural industry is dependent on road transport so the maintenance of this infrastructure is critical and has to be balanced by investment in community infrastructure to meet liveability expectations of the whole community.
The Shire of Morawa is currently reviewing its Community Strategic Plan, this we hope will identify what the future will hold. Each generation sees the world differently and must take responsibility for their communities future needs, having vision is valued but seeing that vision realised is the hard work.
Morawa has a bold plan for a Mountain Bike Trail around the Koolanooka Hills, it would be perfect for the winter months. The challenge is of course bringing all the project partners together along with the funding.
Local Government rewarding
If I was to describe my successes in Local Government, the first would be is to still have community support after 12 years as Shire President and second to be a Life Member of WALGA.
I have served Local Government at all levels with diligence, Zone President and State Councillor WALGA since 2009, Board Member of Local Govt Advisory Board 2011- 2021 and Mid-West Development Commission 2018 to now.
At present I am the Acting President of WALGA after serving as the Deputy President for nearly two years and a Board member of ALGA.
A Councillor offers you as an individual the opportunity to work with others to find solutions to all sorts of issues, from ensuring that the opening hours of the swimming pool are in the best interests of all to advocating to Government for critical funding for road safety improvements.
The hardest part of the role is when you as a Cr disappoint your community and not deliver what your Council promised, even if there is mitigating circumstances it just is so awful to let your folk down.
I see my purpose is to serve and I wish to accomplish this by serving the people through Local Government by being genuine, committed and prepared to accept change.
